Postal services: common rules for the development of the services and improvement of quality of service

In submitting the present opinion, the European Commission amends its proposal for a directive in order to incorporate the 5 amendments adopted by the European Parliament at second reading: - the amendment clarifies the wording on terminal dues; - amendment 2 deletes the clause which provides for special derogations (at the discretion of the national regulatory authorities) from the principle of the home delivery of mail imposed by the universal service; it also requires that derogations from the requirements of the universal service (apart from geographical circumstances and conditions which are considered to be exceptional by the national regulatory authorities) be notified to the Commission and to all national regulatory authorities; - amendment 3 provides that the Commission be kept more widely informed of the measures taken by each Member State to meet the obligation of providing the universal postal service; this serves to improve clarity and transparency; - amendment 4 specifies that derogations from the weight limits for the reserved sector may be granted as far as the free postal service to blind and partially-sighted persons is concerned, on the understanding that the current arrangements for this type of service in the Member States may be maintained; - amendment 5 concerns the right of universal service providers to negotiate individual agreements with their customers. �